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In a brief freewheeling talk with reporters, the Republican expressed optimism about his chances at winning the governor’s office in New York, noting he was an underdog in heavily-DemocraticÂ Â MassachusettsÂ where he was elected to the top job.

“As one who twice has left for dead on the beach,” Weld said, he believes he has a shot, referring to the primary and then the general election in the Bay State.

Weld also said he believes Democrat Tom Suozzi, who trails behind frontrunner Eliot Spitzer, has a realistic shot at winning the nomination.

“Suozzi and I are from the same cloth,”Â Weld said, referring to Suozzi’s self-described outsider status and as someone who wants to shake up the established order.

Weld appears to want to shake things up in education, saying he supports Gov. George Pataki’s plan, which is foundering in the Legislature,Â to offer tax credits for parents who send their kids to private or parochial schools. He also touted an initiative in Massachusetts which allows students inÂ failing schools to simply transfer to other districts.

“I’m for anything that gets fresh air into the education system,” he said.

And Weld didn’t appear upset at reports that fellow Republican and former US Senator Al D’AmatoÂ has beenÂ raising money for Spitzer. “That’s not a political decision. That’s a business decision,” WeldÂ said of D’Amato who now operates aÂ largeÂ lobbying firm.Â

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Capitol Confidential gathers the best coverage of New York politics and puts it all together. Each section - Capitol, The State Worker, New York on the Potomac, and Voices - represents a unique facet of the political scene. The Capitol section features coverage from the Times Union Capitol bureau. The State Worker is dedicated to state worker issues. New York on the Potomac offers news of interest to New Yorkers from Washington. And Voices features the best of everything else, pointing you to columnists and bloggers from across the Web.